Today’s Oil Heat
Today’s oil heat is an environmentally-friendly way to heat your home and water. New, energy-efficient oil heating equipment burns 95% cleaner than it did in the 1970s.
Oil heat is also the most efficient way to heat your home. New oil heat equipment features "smart controls" that minimize on and off cycling. (That's when your system keeps turning on and off). This reduces fuel consumption, wear on parts, emissions and your fuel bills!
Of course, oil heat is only as good as the service provided by your dealer. Please click the links above to learn more about the many ways we use our expertise to keep you warm and comfortable with modern oil heat.
Oil heat is also the most efficient way to heat your home. New oil heat equipment features "smart controls" that minimize on and off cycling. (That's when your system keeps turning on and off). This reduces fuel consumption, wear on parts, emissions and your fuel bills!
Of course, oil heat is only as good as the service provided by your dealer. Please click the links above to learn more about the many ways we use our expertise to keep you warm and comfortable with modern oil heat.
What you can do to save money?
We want you to know that we are on your side during these difficult times. As your full service home comfort provider, we’d like to suggest some steps you can take to get more from your energy dollar:
1. Clean or replace your furnace's filter, about once a month to keep your system running efficiently.
2. Make sure your heating system is operating at peak efficiency by having a professional tune-up.
3. Use automatic programmable thermostats. When used correctly, they can reduce heating costs by about 10%.
4. Upgrade to a new, high-efficiency heating system.
5. Insulate pipes in unheated areas such as attics or crawl spaces.
6. Keep baseboards and vents clear of rugs and furniture so you don't block heat output.
7. Insulate your home, especially windows and doors, with weather stripping and caulk to keep cold drafts out.
8. Sign up for our SmartPay Program to take advantage of convenient monthly payments.
Read on for more things we can all do to save energy all year around!
1. Clean or replace your furnace's filter, about once a month to keep your system running efficiently.
2. Make sure your heating system is operating at peak efficiency by having a professional tune-up.
3. Use automatic programmable thermostats. When used correctly, they can reduce heating costs by about 10%.
4. Upgrade to a new, high-efficiency heating system.
5. Insulate pipes in unheated areas such as attics or crawl spaces.
6. Keep baseboards and vents clear of rugs and furniture so you don't block heat output.
7. Insulate your home, especially windows and doors, with weather stripping and caulk to keep cold drafts out.
8. Sign up for our SmartPay Program to take advantage of convenient monthly payments.
Read on for more things we can all do to save energy all year around!
Energy tips
Winter
Turn your thermostat down from 72°F to 68°F for eight hours a day, and you'll save as much as 10% on energy costs. For every degree you lower your thermostat, you could save about 3% on your heating bill. Winterize windows with weather stripping (for moveable joints) and apply caulk (for nonmoving parts). Also, use a window kit to insulate the inside of your windows to keep cold air out and warm air in.
To keep ceiling fans from creating a wind-chill effect, make sure you reverse the direction of fan blades so they push warm air down.
To keep ceiling fans from creating a wind-chill effect, make sure you reverse the direction of fan blades so they push warm air down.
Summer
Avoid using your stove, oven, dishwasher or clothes dryer during the warmest periods of the day. Your a/c system will have to work harder to keep your home cool.
Fill your dishwasher completely before running it. In the summer, a dishwasher can add humidity to the air so your air conditioning system will need to work harder to maintain a cool temperature.
Clean the coils on your outdoor a/c unit as often as needed, i.e., when dirt is visible on the outside of the coil. Clean the a/c evaporator coil and condensate pan once a year.
Clean the blower’s fan blades.
Clean supply and return registers, and straighten their fins.
Plant shade trees around your outdoor a/c unit. A unit in the sun can use significantly more energy to cool your home than one in the shade.
Install ceiling fans. They use far less energy than air conditioners and allow you to feel cool while keeping your thermostat set higher.
All Year Around
Heating water is the third-highest energy expense in most homes. If your water heater is set at 140°F, turn it down to 130°F. You will save a few dollars each month.
Cooking meals with a microwave oven uses about half the energy of a conventional oven.
Washing clothes in cold water instead of hot water can save you about $50 per year.
Another energy saver in the laundry room is putting a dry bath towel in the dryer with each load of wet clothes. The towel will absorb dampness and reduce drying time by up to 33%, saving energy and money.
If you have a crawl space, inspect it regularly to be sure that the insulation inside is dry. When insulation gets wet, its effectiveness is significantly reduced. Find the source of the moisture and replace any damaged insulation.
Vacuum the coils on your refrigerator every year. The dirt buildup makes the refrigerator work harder to keep the contents cool and therefore uses more energy.
Check for open fireplace dampers.
In cold climates, double-pane windows with a low-emissive glass coating can reduce heating bills by 34%, compared with uncoated, single-pane windows.
When adjusting a thermostat manually, remember that the house will not warm up or cool down faster if you set the thermostat past the desired temperature.
Consider landscaping your home for energy conservation. For instance, plant evergreen trees on the north side and deciduous (leafy) trees on the south side to block winter winds and the summer sun. Make sure your attic is well insulated. This step alone can save you 20%-35% on heating costs and up to 35% on air conditioning costs. Install flow-restricting showerheads. You can reduce hot water use by as much as 50% without affecting shower pressure.
Leave storm windows on all year. They provide valuable insulation and can create substantial fuel savings.
Make sure your duct system has no leaks. They can waste enormous amounts of heat and air conditioning, and you won’t know it until you get hit with a huge energy bill. Contact us if you suspect a duct leak.
Windows should have ample coverings to provide shade from warm sunlight in summer months. Draperies can provide added insulation in winter.
Use kitchen, bath and other ventilating fans wisely; in just one hour, these fans can pull out a houseful of warmed or cooled air. Turn fans off as soon as they have done the job.
Cooking meals with a microwave oven uses about half the energy of a conventional oven.
Washing clothes in cold water instead of hot water can save you about $50 per year.
Another energy saver in the laundry room is putting a dry bath towel in the dryer with each load of wet clothes. The towel will absorb dampness and reduce drying time by up to 33%, saving energy and money.
If you have a crawl space, inspect it regularly to be sure that the insulation inside is dry. When insulation gets wet, its effectiveness is significantly reduced. Find the source of the moisture and replace any damaged insulation.
Vacuum the coils on your refrigerator every year. The dirt buildup makes the refrigerator work harder to keep the contents cool and therefore uses more energy.
Check for open fireplace dampers.
In cold climates, double-pane windows with a low-emissive glass coating can reduce heating bills by 34%, compared with uncoated, single-pane windows.
When adjusting a thermostat manually, remember that the house will not warm up or cool down faster if you set the thermostat past the desired temperature.
Consider landscaping your home for energy conservation. For instance, plant evergreen trees on the north side and deciduous (leafy) trees on the south side to block winter winds and the summer sun. Make sure your attic is well insulated. This step alone can save you 20%-35% on heating costs and up to 35% on air conditioning costs. Install flow-restricting showerheads. You can reduce hot water use by as much as 50% without affecting shower pressure.
Leave storm windows on all year. They provide valuable insulation and can create substantial fuel savings.
Make sure your duct system has no leaks. They can waste enormous amounts of heat and air conditioning, and you won’t know it until you get hit with a huge energy bill. Contact us if you suspect a duct leak.
Windows should have ample coverings to provide shade from warm sunlight in summer months. Draperies can provide added insulation in winter.
Use kitchen, bath and other ventilating fans wisely; in just one hour, these fans can pull out a houseful of warmed or cooled air. Turn fans off as soon as they have done the job.
